Respironics "pulling" their Software

[lpady]

Diabetics can monitor and adjust their therapy.....what's the problem with monitoring our therapy with these "air" machines?
Anybody taking ANY type of drugs can choose to take or not take them.....and in effect adjust their therapy.
What's the problem???....it's ONLY AIR!!!

I fully agree and am as frustrated as you are Den! I was on insulin for a while and heck - if you shoot up too much you can kill yourself!!! My sugar dropped to 20 one day because I thought I was going to get to eat sooner (was having an outpatient procedure done). Boy did the nurses curse me out. At least I was in a medical facility when it happened.

Yep, anybody can take any type of drugs prescribed, or choose not to take them, or choose to take too many of them and become addicted! I know too many chronic pain patients who have ended up in that boat. And all the docs do is shake their finger at you or not prescribe pain meds cause they don't want the DEA looking too closely at them!

Well, I guess they've finally found a way to control and make us pay for the air we breathe

At least we can fight back here and figure it out for ourselves! This is the best place I've ever found with the most knowledgeable people! Thanks so much for all I've learned here!!!!!!!

Linda

[blarg]

Well, I guess they've finally found a way to control and make us pay for the air we breathe

This will be my last comment on this topic for a while at least, until I feel I have something useful to add.

I really don't think this is about control. I don't think the DMEs care what we do with our therapy (just look at compliance rates), UNTIL we bug them about it. Now I have seen piles of people come through here printing up Encore reports as evidence of this or that, and I did it myself. It must be frustrating when you get ahold of that patient that knows just enough to be dangerous, wipes their card, and then goes on and on about needing an auto, while plopping down reports that show high leak and bitching about their AHI while refusing to listen to the person they made an appointment with. For the RTs/DME workers that actually ARE helpful (yes, I believe in unicorns too), this is not an ideal situation.

All I'm really saying is that whether they actually do it or not, it is their job to help us. When we train ourselves in this, we're either becoming informed or dangerous. I can see why they'd want us to have less info; it saves time and money while simultaneously serving an emotional need of their bottom tier. I don't think it's about control, because frankly, management doesn't care much about those emotional needs, they're more concerned about patients Hamilton and Lincoln (it IS capitalism after all).

Does this ALLEGED decision (again, we haven't heard one way or the other yet) really change anything one way or the other? I don't think so. We'll always have someone who's a friend of a sleep tech/DME that can get a copy, so I'm not that concerned personally. I'm not even that fired up. I think there are far bigger injustices going on in the OSA world than companies deciding to make software available to patients or not. Namely that the major companies still make models of machines without so much as C-Flex/EPR and that these are the only machines many people ever try because their pressure of 19 just isn't very comfy on straight CPAP. Gee, I wonder why?

[DreamStalker]

Well, I guess they've finally found a way to control and make us pay for the air we breathe

This will be my last comment on this topic for a while at least, until I feel I have something useful to add.

I really don't think this is about control. I don't think the DMEs care what we do with our therapy (just look at compliance rates), UNTIL we bug them about it. Now I have seen piles of people come through here printing up Encore reports as evidence of this or that, and I did it myself. It must be frustrating when you get ahold of that patient that knows just enough to be dangerous, wipes their card, and then goes on and on about needing an auto, while plopping down reports that show high leak and bitching about their AHI while refusing to listen to the person they made an appointment with. For the RTs/DME workers that actually ARE helpful (yes, I believe in unicorns too), this is not an ideal situation.

All I'm really saying is that whether they actually do it or not, it is their job to help us. When we train ourselves in this, we're either becoming informed or dangerous. I can see why they'd want us to have less info; it saves time and money while simultaneously serving an emotional need of their bottom tier. I don't think it's about control, because frankly, management doesn't care much about those emotional needs, they're more concerned about patients Hamilton and Lincoln (it IS capitalism after all).

Does this ALLEGED decision (again, we haven't heard one way or the other yet) really change anything one way or the other? I don't think so. We'll always have someone who's a friend of a sleep tech/DME that can get a copy, so I'm not that concerned personally. I'm not even that fired up. I think there are far bigger injustices going on in the OSA world than companies deciding to make software available to patients or not. Namely that the major companies still make models of machines without so much as C-Flex/EPR and that these are the only machines many people ever try because their pressure of 19 just isn't very comfy on straight CPAP. Gee, I wonder why?

Yep! I agree ... cept for one thing ... they have their eye on Franklin more so than Lincoln or Hamilton

[Guest]

Howdy,

We met with Respironics over Medtrade. I'm pleased to say that they "get" the issue and care about getting it sorted out. Actually, I'll go further and say that from where I sit, Respironics has a very good grip on the future of the industry and an impressive team in place to guide the company to the next step.

The hurdle is finding a solution that accommodates physicians, traditional providers, patients and internet providers. I believe there are short and long term solutions that will allow patients to monitor sleep performance and please each segment of our industry. Respironics has put me in contact with the people on their end to continue negotiations and fix this problem.

As you can imagine, the specifics of each solution I hope to work through with Respironics contain confidential information relating to their business. Our company is able to be considered to work with Resprionics because of our long history of tightly guarding information they provide us. I must maintain this trust to solve the problem, which means no specifics until we are ready to launch our fix.

I know you, the community, would like a more direct answer to your concerns. I hope you can understand why I've released only limited information. I ask you to trust me when I say I am eager to be involved in ushering in a climate where CPAP'ers can track their nightly sleep performance without the pitfalls of doing so that we see today.

Johnny

[Wulfman]

THANK YOU for the update, Johnny!!!

I'm good with the "limited information". Just as long as THEY "get it".

Would you please thank THEM for whatever it is that they're going to do in this area of patient therapy "self monitoring". And, that we all strongly believe in the importance of it.

Best wishes,

Den

[oceanpearl]

I am old enough to remember when your doctor wouldn't reveal your blood pressure or temperature to you. Now my doctor insist's that I personally take my blod pressure at least once a day.
Things change!!!

[Sammy_J]

Howdy,

We met with Respironics over Medtrade. I'm pleased to say that they "get" the issue and care about getting it sorted out. Actually, I'll go further and say that from where I sit, Respironics has a very good grip on the future of the industry and an impressive team in place to guide the company to the next step.

The hurdle is finding a solution that accommodates physicians, traditional providers, patients and internet providers. I believe there are short and long term solutions that will allow patients to monitor sleep performance and please each segment of our industry. Respironics has put me in contact with the people on their end to continue negotiations and fix this problem.

As you can imagine, the specifics of each solution I hope to work through with Respironics contain confidential information relating to their business. Our company is able to be considered to work with Resprionics because of our long history of tightly guarding information they provide us. I must maintain this trust to solve the problem, which means no specifics until we are ready to launch our fix.

I know you, the community, would like a more direct answer to your concerns. I hope you can understand why I've released only limited information. I ask you to trust me when I say I am eager to be involved in ushering in a climate where CPAP'ers can track their nightly sleep performance without the pitfalls of doing so that we see today.

Johnny

Sorry, I am slow these days due to my centrals. Can someone translate this for me?

[DreamStalker]

Howdy,

We met with Respironics over Medtrade. I'm pleased to say that they "get" the issue and care about getting it sorted out. Actually, I'll go further and say that from where I sit, Respironics has a very good grip on the future of the industry and an impressive team in place to guide the company to the next step.

The hurdle is finding a solution that accommodates physicians, traditional providers, patients and internet providers. I believe there are short and long term solutions that will allow patients to monitor sleep performance and please each segment of our industry. Respironics has put me in contact with the people on their end to continue negotiations and fix this problem.

As you can imagine, the specifics of each solution I hope to work through with Respironics contain confidential information relating to their business. Our company is able to be considered to work with Resprionics because of our long history of tightly guarding information they provide us. I must maintain this trust to solve the problem, which means no specifics until we are ready to launch our fix.

I know you, the community, would like a more direct answer to your concerns. I hope you can understand why I've released only limited information. I ask you to trust me when I say I am eager to be involved in ushering in a climate where CPAP'ers can track their nightly sleep performance without the pitfalls of doing so that we see today.

Johnny

Sorry, I am slow these days due to my centrals. Can someone translate this for me?

workin on it ...

[Goofproof]

Howdy,

We met with Respironics over Medtrade. I'm pleased to say that they "get" the issue and care about getting it sorted out. Actually, I'll go further and say that from where I sit, Respironics has a very good grip on the future of the industry and an impressive team in place to guide the company to the next step.

The hurdle is finding a solution that accommodates physicians, traditional providers, patients and internet providers. I believe there are short and long term solutions that will allow patients to monitor sleep performance and please each segment of our industry. Respironics has put me in contact with the people on their end to continue negotiations and fix this problem.

As you can imagine, the specifics of each solution I hope to work through with Respironics contain confidential information relating to their business. Our company is able to be considered to work with Resprionics because of our long history of tightly guarding information they provide us. I must maintain this trust to solve the problem, which means no specifics until we are ready to launch our fix.

I know you, the community, would like a more direct answer to your concerns. I hope you can understand why I've released only limited information. I ask you to trust me when I say I am eager to be involved in ushering in a climate where CPAP'ers can track their nightly sleep performance without the pitfalls of doing so that we see today.

Johnny

Sorry, I am slow these days due to my centrals. Can someone translate this for me?

What it says is, "The Winds of Change are Blowing", where they are blowing too time will tell.

For the Centrals, don't operate your APAP at 4 cm to 20 cm. Jim

[Slinky]

Ah, OceanPearl, I too remember when the hospital nurses would nearly have a heart attack if you peeked over their shoulder whilst they were writing your BP, pulse & temp down!! One time I took my chart into my room and was sitting on the bed reading it when the nurse came in the room. WOW! The reaction was unbelievable. You'd have thought she'd walked in and caught me trying to suffocate a patient w/a pillow or something!!! My chart spent the entire rest of my "visit" down at the Nurse's Station.

[blowfish]

.

[Ergin]

I think even if they pull their sw, they should still post the updates on their web site, as before.

[Cedric]

So whats up with the price increase??? Taking advantage of the hype??
_________________
No joke! I have an invoice from cpap.com for 1.8i dated 4/16/07 for $30 less than the currently listed price.

Supply and demand in action!

[Wulfman]

So whats up with the price increase??? Taking advantage of the hype??
_________________
No joke! I have an invoice from cpap.com for 1.8i dated 4/16/07 for $30 less than the currently listed price.

Supply and demand in action!

Probably tied directly to the OPEC oil price index.....

(well, those CDs are made out of some kind of plastic)

Den

[BadThad]

Just have to add......I picked up my REMstar Auto C-Flex just yesterday from my DME (and they just ordered it) and it came with the software and card reader I requested...no problems at all.